Roman v. Department of the Air Force

952 F. Supp. 2d 166, 2013 WL 3388393, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 95068

• Court: District Court, District of Columbia
• Decided: July 9, 2013
• Docket: Civil Action No. 2012-1381
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

EMMET G. SULLIVAN, District Judge.

Pro se plaintiff, Gilbert Roman, filed a complaint on August 20, 2012, seeking a court order requiring defendant, the Department of the Air Force, to properly respond to his requests for information, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”),, 5 U.S.C. § 552 (2012). 1 Compl. at 1, Docket No. 1.

Pending before the Court are: (1) Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, or, in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment (Docket No. 7), Plaintiffs Opposition thereto (Docket No. 12), and Defendant’s Reply (Docket No. 17); (2) Plaintiffs Motion to Release Paperwork and Enter New Evidence (Docket No. 10), and Defendant’s Response (Docket No. 11); and (3) Plaintiffs Motions to Enter New Evidence (Docket Nos. 6, 13-16, 21), and Defendant’s Oppositions thereto (Docket Nos. 17-20).

As a preliminary matter, Plaintiffs motions to enter new evidence into the record are GRANTED. Upon consideration of Defendant’s motion, the opposition and reply thereto, the entire record in this case, the applicable law, and for reasons set forth below, the Court concludes that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies regarding one of the two FOIA requests at issue. Accordingly, his complaint is DISMISSED as to that FOIA request. The Court further concludes that the government is entitled to summary judgment with respect to the remaining FOIA request because its search was reasonable and adequate. Accordingly, Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. In light of the foregoing, Plaintiffs pending Motion to Release Paperwork is DENIED as moot.

I. BACKGROUND

A. August 14, 2011 FOIA Request

On August 14, 2011, Plaintiff requested information concerning the Air Force’s High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (“HAARP”). Compl., Ex. A. HAARP is a program that studies the “upper atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics and Radio Science.” Compl., Ex. B. Specifically, Plaintiff requested: “1: All locations of HAARP research facilities. All locations of active HAARP devices; either on land, sea, space or air. 2. All dates and times that a HAARP device has and been tested or used.” Compl., Ex. A.

On September 2, 2011, Defendant confirmed receipt of Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request and forwarded the request to the Communications Division of the Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico (“Kirtland AFB”) for response. Compl., Ex. C5; Declaration of Elizabeth A. Toth (“Toth Decl.”) ¶¶ 1, 4, Ex. 2. Plaintiffs FOIA request was assigned case number 2011-06493-F. Compl., Ex. C5; Toth Decl. ¶4, Ex. 2.

On September 7, 2011, the Kirtland AFB acknowledged receipt of Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request. Toth Decl. ¶ 4, Ex. 3. On September 22, 2011, the Alternate FOIA Manager at Kirtland AFB, Elizabeth Toth, responded by email to Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request advising Plaintiff that the requested information was “fully releasable” and attached responsive documents. Toth Decl. ¶ 5, Ex. 4. Ms. Toth sent Plaintiff information about the HAARP facility in Gakona, Alaska, with a “HAARP fact sheet” created by Dr. Craig Selcher, the HAARP Program Manager, addressing Plaintiffs request. Id. On September 26, 2011, Ms. Toth resent its original response to Plaintiff by email in a different format, per Plaintiffs request. Id.

Plaintiff appealed the decision on September 28, 2011 claiming: “I have seen budget reports that show over 23 HAARP research facilities and/or devices around the U.S. and beyond. So [s]omeone has not searched the proper files.” ■ Toth Decl. ¶ 6, Ex. 5. On October 28, 2011, Defendant acknowledged receipt of Plaintiffs appeal and assigned it case number 2012-00009-A. Compl., Ex. C7. After receipt of the appeal, Dr. Selcher, the HAARP Program Manager, conducted an additional search through the paper records to determine if more than one HAARP facility existed and concluded that none did. Toth Decl. ¶ 7. As such, Defendant denied the appeal on July 23, 2012, advising Plaintiff that there is only one HAARP facility, and of his right to a judicial review of its determination. Compl., Ex. Cl; Toth Decl. ¶ 8, Ex. 6.

Another division of the Department of the Air Force, the Air Force Historical Research Agency (“AFHRA”), also responded to Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 FOIA request. Compl., Ex. C6; Def.’s Mot. at 8 n. 2; Declaration of Kevin I. Burge (“Burge Decl.”) ¶ 7, Ex. 4. The AF-HRA assigned Plaintiffs FOIA request case number 2011-6483-F. Compl., Ex. C6; Burge Decl. ¶ 7, Ex. 4.

Kevin Burge, an archivist at the AF-HRA, processed Plaintiffs request. Burge Decl. ¶¶ 1, 7. He searched AF-HRA’s collections using an electronic indexing system known as IRIS for any references to HAARP. Burge Decl. ¶¶ 4, 7. On September 7, 2011, the AFHRA advised' Plaintiff that it did not have any responsive records but enclosed the abstract of seven documents that mentioned HAARP. Compl., Ex. C6; Burge Decl. ¶ 7, Ex. 4: The AFHRA advised Plaintiff that he had 60 days to appeal the decision. Compl., Ex. C6; Burge Decl. ¶ 7, Ex. 4. Plaintiff did not appeal this decision. Burge Decl. ¶ 7.

B. Correspondence Relating to Other FOIA Requests

Plaintiffs Complaint is explicitly limited to one FOIA request — the August 14, 2011 request referred to as “my request,” and attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A. Compl. at 1, Ex. A. The Complaint also contains other attachments, most of which are correspondence from the Air Force regarding various FOIA requests. Some of the correspondence, described above, clearly relates to the August 14,, 2011 request identified in the Complaint. Compl., Exs. Cl, C5-7. Other correspondence appears to relate to separate FOIA requests. Compl., Exs. C, C2-4 (various letters from the Air Force to Plaintiff between 2010 and 2012 with FOIA request numbers separate from those assigned to the August 14, 2011 request).

At no point during this litigation has Plaintiff provided the Court with any FOIA request other than the August 14, 2011 request; no other requests are attached to the Complaint, nor does he identify or reference any other requests in his Opposition, his Motion to Release Paperwork, or his Motions to Enter New Evidence. 2 Likewise, Plaintiff does not discuss or explain any of the correspondence which appears to relate to other requests. In light of the foregoing, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not placed any requests but the August 14, 2011 request before the Court.

For the reasons explained above, and pursuant to the record before this Court, at issue are Defendant’s two responses to Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request: (1) the Kirtland AFB response (assigned FOIA case number 2011-6493-F and appeal number 2012-00009-A) .and (2) the AF-HRA response (assigned FOIA case number 2011-6483-F).

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On August 20, 2012, Plaintiff filed his Complaint against Defendant. In response, Defendant filed a Motion to Dismiss, or, in the alternative, for Summary Judgment on November 21, 2012.' Plaintiff filed his opposition to Defendant’s motion on December 6, 2012, and Defendant filed its reply on December 18, 2012.

Plaintiff has also filed several motions, including a motion to release paper work, which appears to be a motion for the Air Force to provide discovery, as well as a number of requests that this Court enter evidence into the record. See, e.g., Plaintiffs Motion to Release Paper Work and to Enter New Evidence (Docket No. 10); Plaintiffs motions to enter new evidence into the record (Docket Nos. 6, 13-16, 21). The motions are ripe for resolution by the Court.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A. Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Federal courts have jurisdiction over FOIA cases “to enjoin the agency from withholding agency records and to order the production of any agency records improperly withheld from the complainant.” 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(B). The court’s authority to provide a remedy and enjoin an agency is only invoked if the agency has violated all three elements: (1) improperly, (2) withheld, (3) records. Kissinger v. Reporters Comm, for Freedom of the Press, 445 U.S. 136, 150, 100 S.Ct. 960, 63 L.Ed.2d 267 (1980).

B. Motion for Summary Judgment

The Court may grant a motion for summary judgment if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and ad missions on file, together with affidavits or declarations, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). In a FOIA case, the burden of proof is always on the agency to demonstrate that it has fully discharged its obligations under the FOIA. See Dep’t of Justice v. Tax Analysts, 492 U.S. 136, 142 n. 3, 109 S.Ct. 2841, 106 L.Ed.2d 112 (1989).

In response to a challenge to the adequacy of its search for requested records, “the agency may meet its burden by providing ‘a reasonably detailed affidavit, setting forth the search terms and the type of search performed, and averring that all files likely to contain responsive materials ... were searched.’ ” Iturralde v. Comptroller of the Currency, 315 F.3d 311, 313-14 (D.C.Cir.2003) (quoting Valencia-Lucena v. United States Coast Guard, 180 F.3d 321, 326 (D.C.Cir.1999)). In addition, “[a]ny factual assertions contained in affidavits and other attachments in support of motions for summary judgment are accepted as true unless the nonmoving party submits affidavits or other documentary evidence contradicting those assertions.” Wilson v. Dep’t of Transp., 730 F.Supp.2d 140, 148 (D.D.C.2010) (citing Neal v. Kelly, 963 F.2d 453, 456-57 (D.C.Cir.1992)).

C. Pro Se Parties

A pro se plaintiffs complaint will be “held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers.” Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007). However, “while ... some procedural rules must give way because of the unique circumstance of incarceration,” there is no requirement “that procedural rules in ordinary civil litigation should be interpreted so as to excuse mistakes by those who proceed without counsel.” McNeil v. United States, 508 U.S. 106, 113, 113 S.Ct. 1980, 124 L.Ed.2d 21 (1993) (internal citations omitted).

IV. ANALYSIS

A. Plaintiffs Motions to Enter New Evidence

Plaintiff has filed several requests to enter documents into the record. Specifically, he has provided the court , with (1) documents regarding weather modification; (2) additional copies of documents attached to his Complaint and his Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss or for Summary Judgment; (3) “The Military’s Pandora’s Box” by Dr. Nick Begieh and Jeanne Manning; (4) documents he identifies as “DARPA budget justification reports;” and (5) a document titled “Russian parliament concerned about U.S. plans to develop new Weapon.” See Docket No. 6, Exs. D-D11; Docket No. 10; Docket No. 13, Exs. L-L2; Docket No. 15, Exs. L-L2; Docket No. 14, Exs. D1-D4; Docket No. 16, Exs. D1-D4; Docket No. 21.. The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs motions to enter new evidence, which was considered by the Court when evaluating Defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

B. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, or, in the Alternative, for Summary Judgment

Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction or, in the alternative, moves for summary judgment. The Court will consider them in turn.

1. Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Federal courts have jurisdiction over FOIA cases when an agency improperly withholds records. Kissinger, 445 U.S. at 150, 100 S.Ct. 960. Defendant argues this Court does not have jurisdiction over this case because Plaintiff did not request records. Def.’s Mot. at 8. Consequently, Defendant argues, it did not improperly withhold records. Id. Instead, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff asked questions regarding HAARP locations and the frequency of its testing. Id. Defendant claims that Plaintiffs request was improper because- it is not required under the FOIA to answer questions. Id.; Zemansky v. E.P.A., 767 F.2d 569, 574 (9th Cir. 1985). Therefore, Defendant argues that even though it responded to Plaintiffs improper request, the sufficiency of its response is not subject to judicial review because it did not have an obligation to answer Plaintiffs questions. Def.’s Mot. at 8.

However, Defendant’s response to Plaintiffs request and its denial of Plaintiffs subsequent appeal confers jurisdiction to the Court. Adams v. F.B.I., 572 F.Supp.2d 65, 67 (D.D.C.2008). In Adams, the court rejected defendant’s claim that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction even though the plaintiff did not submit a proper FOIA request. Id. The plaintiff asked a question instead of requesting documents, the agency construed the question as a request for documents and responded, and the plaintiff appealed its response. Id. The agency denied the appeal and informed the plaintiff that he could seek judicial review of the decision. Id. Upon filing the lawsuit, the agency filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Id. The court held that the agency’s “denial of the request confers jurisdiction upon this Court to review the lawfulness of its actions, including its characterization of the request as improper” and denied the motion. Id.

Simular to Adams, Plaintiff allegedly made an improper FOIA request by posing questions. Def.’s Mot. at 6-7. Defendant responded and provided documents to Plaintiff. Toth Decl. ¶ 5, Ex. 4; see also Burge Decl. ¶ 7, Ex. 4. As such, Defendant’s response to Plaintiffs request, and Plaintiffs claim that Defendant is improperly withholding-records due to their alleged inadequate search, gives jurisdiction to the Court to rule on the matter.

2. Failure to Exhaust

A FOIA requester must exhaust administrative remedies before seeking judicial review under the statute. See Banks v. Lappin, 539 F.Supp.2d 228, 234-35 (D.D.C.2008) (“If a requester has not exhausted his administrative remedies pri- or to the filing of a civil action, dismissal is appropriate under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”); see also Wilbur v. C.I.A., 355 F.3d 675, 676 (D.C.Cir.2004) (“ ‘[Exhaustion of administrative remedies is a mandatory prerequisite to a lawsuit under FOIA’ .... ” (citations omitted)).

A plaintiff exhausts administrative remedies when he appeals an agency’s response to his FOIA request, and the agency fails to respond to the appeal within the appropriate time limit, denies the appeal, or makes an adverse determination. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(i, ii); See Hidalgo v. F.B.I., 344 F.3d 1256, 1259 (D.C.Cir.2003). The burden is on the plaintiff to prove exhaustion of administrative remedies. Brown v. F.B.I., 793 F.Supp.2d 368, 380 (D.D.C.2011). The Court may dismiss challenges to unexhausted FOIA requests sua sponte. See, e.g., Nat’l Sec. Counselors v. C.I.A, 931 F.Supp.2d 77, 100 n. 13, 2013 WL 1141768, at *16 n. 13 (D.D.C. 2013) (citations omitted).

Here, Plaintiff did not meet his burden in proving that he exhausted all administrative remedies as to Defendant’s AFHRA response to his August 14, 2011 request. Plaintiff did not exhaust all administrative remedies because he did not appeal Defendant’s September 7, 2011 AF-HRA response to his request. Burge Decl. ¶ 7. Specifically, Defendant’s response states that Plaintiff has 60 days to appeal the decision. Compl., Ex. C6; Burge Decl. ¶ 7, Ex. 4. As such, Plaintiffs deadline was November 6, 2011. Although Plaintiff did file an appeal within that time, it did not encompass AFHRA’s response to his request. Rather, the appeal letter refers only to case number 2011-06493-F, the case number assigned by Kirkland AFB. Toth Decl. ¶5, Ex. 5. It contains no reference to case number 2011-06483-F, -the case number assigned by AFHRA.

Accordingly, Plaintiffs FOIA claims regarding Defendant’s September 7, 2011 AFHRA response must be DISMISSED.

3. Summary Judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate when an agency details the scope and method of the search conducted, there is no evidence to the contrary, and there is no apparent inconsistency of proof. See Perry v. Block, 684 F.2d 121, 127 (D.C.Cir. 1982). Defendant’s affidavit shows that it conducted a reasonable search for the requested information, and Plaintiff does not provide convincing evidence to the contrary. Accordingly, Defendant’s motion for summary judgment is granted as to Defendant’s Kirtland AFB response to Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request because its search was adequate and reasonable.

i. Reasonableness of Defendant’s Search

An agency meets its burden of establishing that it reasonably searched for requested records by submitting a “reasonably detailed affidavit” describing the method of the search and declaring that the files searched were likely to contain responsive documents. Budik v. Dep’t of Army, 742 F.Supp.2d 20, 30 (D.D.C.2010). A declaration that is detailed, non-conclusory and in good faith can prove a defendant conducted a reasonable search. Weisberg v. Dep’t of Justice, 745 F.2d 1476, 1485 (D.C.Cir.1984). At a minimum, a sufficient affidavit describes “what records were searched, by whom, and through what process.” Id. at 30-31 (quoting Steinberg v. U.S. Dept. of Justice, 23 F.3d 548, 552 (D.C.Cir.1994)). In addition, agency declarations are presumed to be made in good faith. SafeCard Servs., Inc. v. S.E.C., 926 F.2d 1197, 1200 (D.C.Cir.1991).

Here, Defendant appropriately relies on the declaration of Elizabeth A. Toth as coordinator and processor of FOIA requests. Id. at 1201. (finding that an affidavit provided by a person in charge of coordinating a search is appropriate). Ms. Toth is an Alternate FOIA Manager at Kirtland AFB, whose duties include “supporting and assisting the Primary FOIA Manager for the installation with processing and responding to FOIA requests .... ” Toth Decl. ¶ 1. Ms. Toth’s declaration states that Defendant conducted a search at the Space Weather Center of Excellence, Battle Space Environment, Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL/RVBX”), the organization which manages the HAARP. Toth Decl. ¶¶ 5, 7. The AFRL/RVBX is “the organization most likely to have records responsive to the request.” Toth Decl. ¶ 5.

The records were searched by Dr. Craig Selcher, the HAARP Program Manager who is “familiar with all aspects of the program including the location of the [HAARP] facility----” Toth Decl. ¶ 7. Additionally, Defendant explains that Dr. Selcher searched the AFRL/RVBX records concerning the goals and scope of HAARP to determine if another HAARP facility was referenced. Id. Those records are relevant in determining if more than one HAARP facility exists because they “relate to the initial and ongoing planning for the program, the environmental impact studies conducted in connection with the program, and all construction in connection with the program.” Id. Moreover, the files are in paper form and were searched “on a file by file basis.” Id.

Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes that Defendant has satisfactorily demonstrated the reasonableness and adequacy of its search.

ii. Allegations of Bad Faith

Once a defendant demonstrates the adequacy of its search, the burden is then on the plaintiff to provide sufficient evidence causing “substantial doubt” regarding the adequacy of that search. Budik, 742 F.Supp.2d at 32 (citations omitted). Although the courts recognize that it is difficult for a FOIA requester to show that a file exists when he or she has never seen it, an agency’s search does not need to be perfect, just adequate. See Meeropol v. Meese, 790 F.2d 942, 956 (D.C.Cir.1986). “[A]dequacy is measured by the reasonableness of the effort in light of the specific request.” Id. Furthermore, declarations “cannot be rebutted by ‘purely speculative claims about the existence and discoverability of other documents.’ ” SafeCard Servs., Inc., 926 F.2d at 1200 (quoting Ground Saucer Watch, Inc. v. C.I.A, 692 F.2d 770, 771 (D.C.Cir.1981)).

Plaintiffs opposition raises many allegations as to Defendant’s bad faith in its search, but Plaintiffs allegations have no merit. Many of the allegations and evidence provided by Plaintiff do not speak to the issue before the Court, pursuant to Plaintiffs appeal: was Defendant’s search adequate, and reasonable under FOIA in determining if more than one HAARP facility exists? Compl. at 1; Toth Deck, Ex. 5.

Specifically, in his opposition, Plaintiff requests that the Court order Defendant to produce the processing forms for his requests to see if Defendant noted the search times on the forms. Pl.’s Opp’n at 1. He attaches processing forms from other agencies which do not indicate search times as an example of an agency’s noncompliance. Pl.’s Opp’n, Exs. H1-H4. Processing forms from other agencies, however, do not speak to the inadequacy of Defendant’s search and therefore are irrelevant.

Next, Plaintiff attaches a document entitled “National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide for Automatic Declassification of 25-Year-Old Information.” PL’s Opp’n, Exs. F-F3. Plaintiff claims that the documents show different names assigned to files. PL’s Opp’n at 1. Although his opposition is not clear on this point, the Court will assume that Plaintiff claims Defendant did not search different names in various documents as search terms when conducting its search. Again, this document is a guide produced by the NRO and does not describe Defendant’s naming procedures, and Plaintiff has not provided evidence showing its relevance.

Furthermore, an adequate search is determined on a case by case basis. Davis v. Dep’t of Justice, 460 F.3d 92, 103 (D.C.Cir.2006) (“[T]he adequacy of an agency’s search is measured by a standard of reasonableness, and is dependent upon the circumstances of the case.” (internal quotation marks and citation omitted)). In this case,- after Plaintiff appealed, Defendant performed a second search that involved paper records. Toth Deck ¶ 7. In Defendant’s second search, Dr. Selcher, who is “familiar with all aspects of the [HAARP] program including the location of the facility,” Toth Decl. ¶ 7, searched the records “for any reference to a [HAARP] facility other than the one at Gakona, Alaska.” Id. It was reasonable for Defendant to take a general approach in its search to find a reference to any possible HAARP facility since Plaintiff claimed in his appeal that more than one facility exists, Compl. at 1; Toth Decl., Ex. 5, and his original request specifically asked for information regarding HAARP. Compl., Ex. A; Toth Decl., Ex. 1.

Plaintiff also alleges that private contractors hold files for Defendant and that it did not search the records of the private contractors. Pl.’s Opp’n at 1. Plaintiff attaches a document entitled “National Security Directive 42” to his Opposition, which is a memorandum for “The Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.” Pl.’s Opp’n, Exs. Gl-Gll. The subject of the memorandum is “National Policy for the Security of National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems.” Id. Although this document does suggest that government contractors exist, it does not show that Defendant used private contractors in relation to the HAARP. Even if Defendant did use private contractors, those records are not necessarily “agency records” and may not be subject to the requirements of the FOIA. See Tax Analysts, 492 U.S. at , 144-45, 109 S.Ct. 2841 (defining “agency records” as (1) created or obtained by an agency, and (2) under the agency’s control at the time of the FOIA request).

Plaintiff also attaches documents concerning weather modification. PL’s Opp’n, Exs. D5-D11,1 — II, J-J2. Again, these documents do not show that Defendant’s search was in bad faith or that there is more than one HAARP facility. Likewise, no other evidence in the record of this Court demonstrates the inadequacy of Defendant’s search. See generally Docket Nos. 6,13-16, 21.

Lastly, Plaintiff states in his opposition: “Whether you call the technology HAARP or Ionosphere research; they use the same technology. All locations of HAARP/Ionosphere facilities, devices and test dates should be released.” PL’s Opp’n at 1. It appears that Plaintiff argues that Defendant’s search for records should include any ionosphere facility, not just the HAARP facility. Defendant, on the other hand, argues that it was reasonable to limit its search to HAARP facilities only, because Plaintiffs request was limited to HAARP and did not suggest that he was searching for documents regarding ionosphere research facilities in general. Def.’s Mot. at 11.

Defendant is correct in its assertion that it was only obligated to conduct a search pursuant to Plaintiffs original request. Plaintiff was obligated to “reasonably describe” the records he sought. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(3)(A)(i). A reasonable description allows “the agency [] to determine precisely what records are being requested.” Kowalczyk v. Department of Justice, 73 F.3d 386, 388 (D.C.Cir.1996) (quoting Yeager v. Drug Enforcement Admin., 678 F.2d 315, 326 (D.C.Cir.1982)). Here, Plaintiff specifically asked for information concerning HAARP in his original request. Compl., Ex. A. His request never mentioned any other ionosphere research facility or documents generally regarding ionosphere facilities. Compl., Ex. A. Moreover, in' his appeal letter to Defendant, Plaintiff disputed the éxistence of other HAARP facilities, specifically. Toth Decl., Ex. 5. Therefore, it is reasonable that Defendant limited its search to HAARP and did not expand it to include any ionosphere facility.

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidence to rebut Defendant’s declaration or show that Defendant acted in bad faith. Accordingly, summary judgment as to the adequacy of the Kirkland AFB’s search for responsive records is GRANTED in the Defendant’s favor.

y. CONCLUSION

For the above reasons, the Court orders the following: (1) Plaintiffs motions to enter new evidence into the record are GRANTED; (2) Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is DENIED; (3) Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs August 14, 2011 request to Kirtland AFB, only; (4) Plaintiffs complaint with respect to his August 14, 2011 request to AFHRA is DISMISSED for failure to exhaust administrative remedies; and (5) Plaintiffs Motion to Release Paperwork is DENIED as moot. An appropriate Order will accompany this Memorandum Opinion.

1 . Plaintiff filed another case, Roman v. National Reconnaissance Office, Case No. 12-1370, also resolved by the Court this same day. The two cases involve different FOIA requests to different agencies.

2 . In its Motion to Dismiss, Defendant references a November 2010 FOIA request from Plaintiff, but notes that, "this case does not encompass [that] request.” Def.’s Mot. at 2 n. 1. The Court agrees.